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Liberian Security Sector Reform (LSSR) Program
Security Sector Reform for National Defense Program

The Liberia Security Sector Reform program was a US State Department-led initiative to help rebuild the Armed Forces of Liberia. As part of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in 2003 that brought an end to the Liberian civil war, the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) were to be restructured. The United States took a leading role in facilitating that reform, with a memorandum of understanding signed to formalize the relationship. A Joint Defense Advisory Committee, which also included members of the Liberian Ministry of Defense, was subsequently formed to develop the security sector reform plan for Liberia. The subsequent program developed called first for the demobilization of the existing Liberian Ministry of Defense staff, which was completed in July 2006.

After the demobilization, the Liberian Security Sector Reform (LSSR) program began working on its stated goal of restructuring the AFL. This involved recruiting new Ministry of Defense staff, overhauling the organizational structure, and establishing broad new training programs fro the new staff. Contractors were used to support the vetting and training of the new personnel.

Following the formal establishment of US Africa Command (AFRICOM) in October 2008, the US military became involved in supporting the State Department LSSR program. As a joint inter-agency program coordinated through the US Embassy in Monrovia, more than a dozen US Army NCOs, a team of US Marines and civilian mentors operated in the country in support of the program. The forces were supplied through US Army Africa (USARAF) and through the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA). The Marine contingent was initially made up of members of 2nd Battalion, 18th Field Artillery Regiment, detached from CJTF-HOA.

By April 2009, senior USARAF leaders were reviewing the initial success of the program to determine how best to support future partnership assignments with Liberian forces. The initial success of military cooperation in Liberia was indicative of the Army's role in partnering with African nations: building capacity for African forces to enable legitimate authorities to create more peaceful and stable environments. By building security capacity and promoting strategic partnerships with the Liberian military, the US Army regains a valuable ally in West Africa to support stability and defeat extremism in the region, a priority for US foreign policy.

The LSSR program made significant progress in FY09. The second of 2 AFL infantry battalions was activated and the force reached its end strength of 2,172 soldiers. International Military Education and Training funds were used to train 32 students in the United States, and Foreign Military Finance funds were used to provide uniformed mentors to the Ministry of Defense and the AFL.

The Liberia Security Sector Reform program ended in CY09 with the completion of United States Government training, to be replaced by the Defense Sector Reform (DSR) program, which focused on mentoring and institution building. In January 2010, AFRICOM initiated a DSR program called Operation Onward Liberty to support the Department of State's broader Security Sector Reform program in Liberia. US Marine Corps Forces Africa (MARFORAF) was designated as the lead component for the operation by AFRICOM.